FSWeekend 2026 just wrapped up at the Aviodrome Aviation Museum in Lelystad, and it was the biggest edition in the event's history. Over 5,000 attendees filled an expanded 400-square-meter exhibition floor, with more than 60 exhibitors showcasing the future of flight simulation. For the first time ever, Microsoft exhibited in person — a sign of just how far this community has come.
We were there. Here's everything worth knowing.
Highlights
- Microsoft exhibited in person for the first time, unveiling City Update 14, AAU4 details, a surprise Fokker F27 release, and PlayStation VR2 support.
- Three major airliners announced — Vector Studio's 787, BlueBird's 757-200, and iniBuilds' L-1011 TriStar (releasing this month).
- FlyByWire confirmed a native A380X for MSFS 2024 with up to 50% performance gains.
- WinCTRL stunned with a $349.95 A320 Overhead Panel and force-feedback hardware that redefines cockpit accessibility.
Microsoft Outlines the Road Ahead
Microsoft brought some of the biggest news of the weekend with reveals for both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024:
- City Update 14: The Netherlands & Belgium — Available now, featuring high-fidelity scans of the very museum where FSWeekend is held.
- Aircraft and Avionics Update 4 (AAU4) — Coming in Q2, with major overhauls to the default G1000 NXi and more precise flight model dynamics for light aircraft.
- Local Legend 23: Fokker F27 Friendship — Released as a surprise during the keynote, this Dutch classic is the perfect tribute to the Lelystad venue.
- PlayStation VR2 Support — A major surprise for 2024, opening up high-end VR to the console audience.
The in-person presence signals Microsoft's growing commitment to the core simmer, moving beyond just the platform and into the community itself.
The Heavy Metal Airliner Showdown
FSWeekend 2026 felt like a turning point for airliner add-ons. Multiple teams are building deep, study-level aircraft with unprecedented systems modeling.
Vector Studio — 787 "Project Griffin"
The showstopper. Vector Studio showed off their 787-9 with a fully functional EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) and a flight model built entirely on native CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics).
BlueBird Simulations — 757-200
Nearly complete. The 757-200 is entering beta. The focus here is on the "pencils" of the cockpit — the distinct feel of flying one of Boeing's most beloved airframes.
iniBuilds — L-1011 TriStar
A classic reborn. iniBuilds announced the L-1011 is coming later this month. It includes a deep simulation of the DLC (Direct Lift Control) system and a vintage INS that will challenge even the most experienced navigators.
FlyByWire — A380X Native
The FBW team confirmed that the A380X is being built as a native MSFS 2024 aircraft. By leveraging the new engine's multi-threading, they're seeing up to 50% performance improvements over the current dev builds.
Hardware Disruption: The Democratization of the Cockpit
The high-end cockpit used to cost thousands. 2026 is the year that changes.
WinCTRL
WinCTRL stole the show with their A320 Overhead Panel. Priced at just $349.95, it's a full-scale, plug-and-play unit with auto-configuring "Sentient FlightDeck Intelligence." WinCTRL won the Innovation Award at the Flight Sim Awards.
Meridian GMT
A new player in the yoke market, Meridian GMT showed off a force-feedback yoke that uses industrial-grade haptics to simulate everything from prop wash to the subtle "thud" of landing gear locking into place.
MOZA
The racing sim giant MOZA is officially in flight. They debuted their modular stick and throttle system, aimed at the mid-range market with high-end build quality.
Utilities and Ecosystem Upgrades
- Navigraph: Navigraph announced "Chart Overlay 2.0," allowing simmers to overlay real-time weather and traffic directly onto their charts in-sim.
- OnAir Airline Manager: A massive UI overhaul and real-world airline integration were the highlights for OnAir, making the "career" aspect of simming more immersive than ever.
The 2026 Flight Sim Awards
The weekend concluded with the Flight Sim Awards. SayIntentions.AI was honored to be nominated for Innovation of the Year. Congratulations to all the winners who continue to push our shared hobby forward.
What It All Means
FSWeekend 2026 proved that the "new era" of flight simulation isn't just starting — it's here. The gap between home simming and professional training is narrowing, hardware is becoming more accessible, and the community is more vibrant than ever.
See you in 2027!